Continuous feeding and slicing mechanism for plastic substances and the like



Nov. 13, 1956 Original Filed May 13, 194.8

C DOERING ETAL CONTINUOUS F EEDING AND SLICING MECHANISM FOR PLASTIC SUBSTANCES AND THE LIKE 6 Sheets-Sham 1 C. DOERING ET AL CONTINUOUS FEEDING AND SLICING MECHANISM Nov. 13, 1956 FOR PLASTIC SUBSTANCES AND THE LIKE Original Filed May 13, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet. 2

J77 677Z275. (ZarZaaZ 1956 c. DOERING ET AL CONTINUOUS FEEDING AND SLICING MECHANISM FOR PLASTIC SUBSTANCES AND THE. LIKE Original Filed May 13, 1948 GShe'et-S-Sheet 5 IZZiI/f:

Nov. 13, 1956 c. DOERING ET AL 2,770,039

CONTINUOUS FEEDING AND SLICING MECHANISM FOR PLASTIC SUBSTANCES AND THE LIKE Original Filed May 13, 1.948

DOERlNG ET AL CONTINUOUS FEEDING AND SLICING MECHANISM Nov. 13, 1956 0.

FOR PLASTIC SUBSTANCES AND THE LIKE Original Filed May 13, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 1956 c. DOERING ETAL 2,770,03

CONTINUOUS FEEDING AND SLICING MECHANISM FOR PLASTIC SUBSTANCES AND THE LIKE Original Filed May 13, 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 United States Patent CONTINUOUS FEEDING AND SLICING MECHA- lflnsgli FOR PLASTIC SUBSTANCES AND THE Charles Doering and Henry H. Docring, Chicago, and Bertil J. Skoglund, Elmwood Park, EL; said Skoglund assignor to said Charles 'Doering and said Henry H. Doering Application December 17, 1951, Serial No. 262,146

Claims. (Cl. 31-20) This invention relates to automatic feeding and slicing devices and more particularly to continuously operating feeding and slicing instrumentalities. This application is a division of copending application Serial Number 26,906, filed May 13, 1948, now Patent No. 2,643,495 issued June 30, 1953.

It contemplates more especially the provision of simultaneous feeding and slicing instrumentalities synchronized to continuously provide uniform segments, units, or slices for further processing as commercial practice may dictate.

The formation of plastic substances into uniform polygonal masses has been long and successfully practiced through extrusion and moulding, but the problem of segmenting, or slicing these masses into preformed units, or slices, has been considerably more difiicult, based upon present production standards. This problem has been solved with the teachings of the present invention by synchronized continuous feeding and slicing so that the usual intermittent operation has been eliminated and smooth continuous synchronized improved instrumentalities provided whereby successive comparatively thin slabs are continuously severed and tilted for gravity displacement so that minimum moving elements are required and high production results from continuous rather than intermittent operation.

Such severed units, or slabs, may be advantageously utilized-in the production of ornamented individual servings, which has become increasingly popular in restaurants, hotels, vehicular dining units, and even in retail establishments catering to the home user. The teachings of the present invention concerns itself with im proved feeding and slicing instrumentalities, but is illustrated and described in connection with cutting and impressing or monogramming instrumentalities to show one form of its utility; however, this should be construed by way of illustration rather than by limitation.

it has been customary to form edible plastics such as butter and kindred edible substances into rectangular bricks of varying weights; however, these necessitated transverse and longitudinal severance with auxiliary devices to create rectangular segments primarily for restaurant purposes. This not only entails much labor in the preparations thereof for serving to the customer, but also the contour thereof is only utilitarian and does not enhance the appearance thereof, and is an important factor in pleasing the taste of the individual consumer.

The novel formation of edible plastics into adhering units of varied design imparts a continuous polygonal effect, serves to impart a more pleasant appearance thereto. and also eliminates considerable labor heretofore necessary in producing palatable segments thereof. Edible plastics produced in accordance with the teachings of the present invention require a single operating stroke severance and surface design formation, this being distinguished from the usual method of longitudinal and then transverse division of bricks into multiple segments of usual rectangular shape without any possible surface ice design that is not altogether advantageous for restaurant purposes.

Power operation of conveying means serves to feed slabs of substance in the path of the impressing and cutting instrumentalities to render the latter effective to convert the slabs into design impressed multiple segments or units of operations without manual intervention. This may be in the form of suitable automatic controls depending upon the dictates of commercial practice. It is important that the power of instrumentalities that actuate the cutting and impressing intrumentalities, be controlled to the extent of creating a single actuation for each slab of material that is presented thereto. This is controlled automatically to avoid a duplication of impressions and to insure precision as well as a maximum production by the improved combination of elements that makes possible the simultaneous power actuation of impressing, cutting and synchronized feeding instrumentalities in devices of this character.

One object of the present invention is to simplify the construction and improve the operation of services of the character mentioned.

Another object is to provide a novel slicing mechanism that continuously moves along compound path in confronting relation to a continuously fed slab of substances to slice uniform segments therefrom.

Still another object is to provide improved means for moving a slicing wire along a reciprocable compound path its down and up movement to continuously slice slabs from a continuously moving block of plastic substance.

A further object is to provide an improved cutting frame which tilts while moving in its down and up stroke to compensate for the linear continuous movement of a slab which is sliced into segments therewith.

A still further object is to provide a movable and tiltable cutting frame which slices segments from a continuously moving slab and tiltably displaces each cut-off slice to a forward position.

Still a further object is to provide an improved cutting and feeding mechanism that segregates substances into slices while the substances are continuously displaced along a predetermined path.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a device embodying features of the present invention, parts thereof being broken away to clarify the showing.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side view in elevation of the machine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan sectional view taken substantially along line III-4H of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic side view in elevation of the suction pick-up and paper feed instrumentalities shown in assembled relation in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side view in elevation of the substance slab cutting and paper Wrap feed mechanism shown in relation to the slab support and transfer drum.

Figure 6 are fragmentary views of actuating instrumentalities for the cutter frame taken substantially along lines VV and VI-VI of Figure 3, these being shown separately to clarify the illustration of the cutter frame reciprocating and oscillating mechanism.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary enlarged side view in elevation of the slicing mechanism shown in Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view in elevation taken substantially along line VIII-VIII of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view in elevation taken substantially along line IXIX of Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view in elevation taken substantially along line XX of Figure 2.

The structure selected for illustration is not intended to serve as a limitation upon the scope or teachings of the invention, but is merely illustrative thereof. There may be considerable variations and adaptations of all or part of the teachings depending upon the dictates of commercial practice. The present embodiment comprises a horizontal frame member 10 of substantially rectangular figuration which is supported at the desired elevation by a plurality of corner standards 11, preferably though not essentially, comprising vertical angle irons attached at their upper ends to the frame member If) by welding, riveting, or other suitable fastening expedients. intermediate vertical braces 12 depend from the frame mem ber 10 to horizontal braces 13 that extend between the corner standards 11 to reinforce the frame 19 against vibration and creeping as well as to serve as a support for some of the instrumentalities comprising parts of the machine which is illustrative of the invention and the teachings thereof.

The edible plastic substances that are contemplated for processing with the machine comprising the subject matter of this invention may take the form and characteristics of butter which is preferably extruded from a printing machine that is equipped with forming dies of the desired shape and size to present a cross section commensurate with the size of the slab to be impressed and cut into ornamental segments for serving in restaurants, public places, and private homes. The preformed horizontal column of butter or other suitable plastic substances are extruded from the printing machine to an endless conveyor belt 14 (Figures 1 and 2) consisting of narrow elongated rectangular metal plates 15 which are interconnected through the medium of an endless chain 16 which meshes with horizontally aligned sprockets 17-18 carried by shafts 1920 journalled in bearing brackets 21. The bearing brackets 21 are mounted between the side members of the frame 10 to support the endless conveyor comprising the plates 14 that are continuously driven into a counter-clockwise direction (viewed from Figure 2).

In order to guide the pro-formed horizontal column of plastic substance along a pre-determined path on the frame 10, the latter is provided with a plurality of upstanding vertical guide rollers 22, in this instance four equi-distantly linearly disposed rollers 22 on each side of the conveyor belt 14. The rollers 22 are journalled in brackets 23 (Figure 2) fixed to the top of the frame member 10 by means of bolts or other suitable fasteners 24 so as to guide the column of plastic substance to the discharge end of the conveyor belt 14 which is fitted with stationary horizontally extending plates 2526 mounted on adjustable screws 2728 terminating in the manual manipulating knobs or wheels 2930. The screw members 27-28 are journalled in collars 31-32 disposed on each side of an upstanding bracket plate 33-34 which are fixed to the frame member 10 as at 35 (Figures 1 and 2). The horizontally extending plates 2526 terminating in an angularly offset stop member 36 (Figure 5) which bridges the horizontally extending plates 25-26 for support thereon at the upper limit of movement of a wire 37 constituting part of the slab cutter as will appear more fully hereinafter.

The slab cutter wire 37 (Figure 5) is tensioned between the side of a cutter frame 38 (Figure 5) which has trunnions 39 at their upper extremities to ride in slightly inclined vertical guide slots 40 provided in a cutter frame 41. The cutter frame 38 is pivotally connected at its lower extremity to a stationary frame block 42 which in turn carries a pintle 43 journalled therein. The lower end of the cutter frame guide 41 is rigidly attached to the upper end of an elongated actuating lever 44 (Figures 2,

5 and 6). The actuating lever 44 inclines downwardly with its lower extremity having a tension spring 45 anchored thereto with the other spring end anchored as at 46 (Figure 5) to a cross channel 47 that extends underneath the longitudinal horizontal braces 13. A cam roller 48 is journalled on the actuating lever 44 proximate to the lower end thereof in confronting relation with an actuating cam 49 carried by a stub shaft 59 which is journalled in a bearing bracket 51 fixed to the longitudinal cross member 13 for support thereon.

So that the cutter frame guide 41 will oscillate to a limited degree in unison with the continuous forward movement of the horizontal column of substance on the endless conveyor 14, the lever 44 is actuated by a cam to be hereinafter described. In order to reciprocate the cutter wire 37, the cutter frame 38 is a part of the cross bar 52 that is welded or otherwise attached to a bracket 53 (Figure 5) that confronts a bracket 54 with an ad pintle 57 carried by the furcated extremity S8 of an actuating lever 59 (Figures 5 and 6). The actuating lever 59 terminates in a bearing sleeve 60 that is disposed in alignment with another bearing sleeve 61 for pivotal support on a pintle 62 carried by a bracket 63 that is also fixed to the longitudinal frame member 13 (Figures 3 and 6). The bearing sleeve 61 is formed integral with a lever 64 as comparatively shorter than the lever 59 (Figures 3 and 5) to terminate in a furcated extremity 65 which receives a pin 66 therein. The pin 66 is carried by a vertical shaft 67 (Figure 5) which is connected to an air piston 68 (Figure 4) confined in the air cylinder 69 (Figure 5) to produce a vacuum for the paper pickup mechanism to be hereinafter described.

As shown, the cutter reciprocating frame lever 59 has a cam follower roller 70 journalled thereon for reception in a cam groove 71 provided in one side 72 of a box cam 73 which is fixed on the counter-shaft 50. The other side 74 of the box cam 73 has a cam groove provided therein to receive a cam roller 75 journalled on the comparatively shorter actuating lever 64 which controls the air piston 68 within the cylinder 69; The levers 59 and 64 are actuated by a compound box cam 73 to reciprocate the rockably mounted cutter frame 38 and the piston 68. The cutter frame 38 is reciprocated while the lever 44 effects the oscillation of the cutter frame 38 carrying the wire 37 therewith responsive to the actuation of the cam 49 which is also fixed to the counter-shaft 50. in consequence thereof, thin slabs 76 of plastic substance such as butter (Figure 5) will be sequentially severed from the horizontal column 77 of edible substances while being extruded from the printing machine and carried by the conveyor 14 to the cutter wire 37 and its associated frame 38 and guide frame 41.

The cutter wire 37, its frame 38 and the frame guide 41 have compound movement in that the wire cutter 37 oscillates to move with the cut slab 76 and then is dis placed forwardly and thereafter substantially straight upwardly as well as rearwardly in preparation for the next cut; however, owing to the slight forward movement of the cutter frame 33 during the down stroke thereof, the severed slab 76 will be tilted forwardly because of its momentary support on its lowermost edge with the center of gravity slightly forward of its supporting edge. Each severed slice or slab 76 will tilt forwardly for gravity displacement by reason of its self-turning on its lowermost edge. The guide frame 41 is abruptly tilted or rocked in a counterclockwise direction (viewed from Figure 5) as the wire cutter 37 reaches its extreme downward position to effect complete severance of the slab 76, thereby displacing the wire cutter 37 in advance of the continuously fed column of substance 77 to allow the cutter wire 37 to rapidly ascend free thereof to its extreme upward position whereupon the frame 41 pivots 1 i8 rocked in a clockwise direction responsive to the cam 49 to return to an initial position preparatory to again transversely entering the column 77 of the substance to be sliced.

It should be noted that the angularly offset stop member 36 will prevent the cut slab 76 from moving in any direction other than being tilted forwardly on its own lowermost edge toward a drum 78 which has nine or ten straight sides or surfaces 79 for support of successively formed slabs 76. The slabs 76 are properly centered on the sides 79 as the drum 78 intermittently rotates to present the next straight side 79 at the severing station denoted by the cutter frame 38, elongated transverse movable cleats 86 extend for the width of the drum 78 along the lower edges of each of the straight sides 79, to present side fingers 87 on both sides of the drum 78 for pivotal connection thereto by means of studs or pins 88. The extreme counterclockwise movement of the cleats 86 with their fingers 87 is limited by pins 89 fixed to the end surfaces of the drum 78 in the path of the fingers 87.

The movable cleats 86 serve to center the slab 76 on the strai ht side 79 of the drum 78 in conjunction with and relative to fixed cleats 90 attached to the upper edge of the straight sides 79 so that the latter will each have a movable lower cleat 86 and a fixed upper cleat 90 to receive the slab 76 therebetween as the drum 78 rotates in a counter-clockwise direction (viewed from Figure 5). These cleats 86-90 also serve to grasp the lower and upper edges of the butter slabs 76 to effectively retain them on the straight sides 79 of the drum 78. The centering of a slab 76 is positively effected as each straight side 7 9 carrying a slab 76 approaches the upper horizontal position which is in vertical alignment with the cutting and impressing mechanism to be hereinafter described. This positive centering of the slabs 76 on each of the straight sides 79 is efiected by the fingers 87 which are tripped against a roller 91 fixed to the side frame in the position to effect perfect registry of the slab 76 on the horizontal straight side 79 as such arrives at the superposed cutting and impressing station (Figure 5).

In this position, the movable cleat fingers 87 are actuated to their extreme counter-clockwise position against the fixed pins 89 (Figure 5) to insure the positive displacement of the slabs 76 against the fixed cleat 90 in this position preparatory to being impressed and simultaneously cut into segments as will more clearly appear hereinafter (Figure 5). This insures the proper registry in each slab '76 on the straight side 79 before the cutting and impressing means are actuated. In order to effect accurate registry of the drum 78 so that each side 79 is presented at the cutting and impressing station in absolute perfect alignment therewith, a special indexing mechanism is provided for the drum 78. The indexing mechanism comprises, in this instance, an eccentric 92 (Figure 8) mounted on the drum shaft 81 to cooperate with a correspondingly shaped bore 93 provided in a sectional crank arm 94 which is pivotally connected at one end to a pin 95 carried by a link 96.

The link 96 is pivoted as at 97 to a block 98 fixed to one side of the drum 78. The other end of the crank arm 94 is provided with a furcated extremity 99 which cooperates with and engages equi-distant ly and circumferentially spaced face registering drum rollers 100 that are journalled on pins 101 anchored in the end face of the drum 78 in radial alignment with each corner presented by the straight sides 79 of the drum 78. It will be apparent, therefore, that the rotation of the drum 78 will cause the crank arm 94 to move inwardly and outwardly responsive to the eccentric 92 so as to successively engage the equally spaced face registering drum rollers 100 to insure that the upper horizontal straight drum side 79 will be momentarily held in exact registry with the cutting and impression instrumentafities as will appear more fully hereinafter.

It should be noted that the indexing crank arm 94 has a finger 102 (Figure 8) extending from the forked or 6 furcated extremity 99 thereof to engage a drum roller engaging stop bar 103 (Figure 9) that engages over the most elevated roller to retain the drum 78 momentarily inactive with the top straight drum side 79 at its most elevated precise horizontal position at the cutting and impressing station. The stop bar 103 is arcuate to successively receive the rollers 100 which is accomplished by mounting the stop bar 103 on convergent rods 104- 105 having aligned sleeve bosses 106-107 journalled on a pin 108 carried by a sleeve bearing 109 fixed to the frame side plate 85 by means of a bracket 110 having fasteners 1.11 extending therethrough. A spring 112 is anchored between the stop bar mount 105 and the side plate 85 to normally urge the stop bar 103 down in the path of the rollers 100.

While the drum '78 is momentarily held stationary by the stop bar 103 in engagement with the top most roller 100, an extension 113 on the stop bar 103 is disposed in the path of the finger 102 on the fork 99 as the later is displaced in a clockwise direction (viewed from Figure 8) to remove the stop bar 103 from engagement with the roller. This displacement of the stop bar 103 permits the crank arm 94 to rotate the drum 78 to bring the next succeeding straight drum side 79 to the topmost horizontal cutting and impressing position. In this position the stop bar 103 again momentarily engages a roller 100 by reason of the downward displacement of the stop bar 103 on the roller 100 responsive to the urge of the spring 112 on the stop bar mount 105. The drum 78 is journal-led on the shaft 81 and the intermittent rotation thereof is effected by the eccentric 92 through the crank arm 94 which together with the stop bar 103 and the roller 100 successively bring the straight drum sides 79 to rest at the uppermost horizontal position. At this moment the cutting and impressing instrumentalities are arctuated as will be presently described.

The uppermost horizontal drum side 79 carries with it a slab 76 which is superposed thereon. A plurality of individual impressing dies 115 are fixed to a platen 116 with normally intersecting segment cutting blades 117 disposed therebetween. The normally intersecting segment cutting blades 117 are attached to a plate 118 while the dies 115 are reciprocable relative thereto with the platen 116 which is movably confined within a housing 119 that also fixedly supports the cutter mounting plate 118 (Figure 9). The platen 116 is disposed above the cutter blades 117 so that the individual dies 115 can be raised or lowered therewith relative to the intersecting blades 117 depending upon the movement of the housing 119 in a vertically downward direction. Springs 120- 121 within the housing 119 normally urge the platen 116 with the dies 115 downwardly. To this end, the housing 119 is provided with integral mounting side arms 122- 123 (Figure 9) which terminate in vertical sleeves 124- 125 that are attached to the upper extremities of vertical posts 126-127 by means of suitable fasteners 128- 129.

The posts 126-127 are vertically guided in elongated slide bearing sleeves 130-131 (Figures 5 and 9) fixed to the inner surfaces of the frame plates 85. The lower extremities of the vertical posts 126-127 are each provided with a sleeve 132 (Figure 5) to which is attached a cam follower roller 133 and a spring anchoring lug 134. A tension spring 135 extends between the mount of the finger tripping roller 91 and the lug 134 to normally retain the cam follower roller 133 in contact with a cam 136 fixed to the drum shaft 81 to depress the housing 119 and its supporting posts 126-127 so as to bring the impression dies 115 and cutter blades 117 in operable contact with the substance slab 76 disposed on the drum side 79 at the topmost horizontal position in vertical alignment with the cutting and impression instrumentalities presently described, this being the cutting and impression station referred to previously and at which time the drum 78 is momentarily at rest.

So that the substance slabs 76 will be laterally centered parallel to the drum axis on the drum side 79 at the cutting and impression station before the cutting and impressing is effected, the housing supporting posts 126- 127 are provided with sleeves 136-137 (Figures 9 and adjustably fixed thereto by means of set screws 138 to support cam actuating rollers 139-140. The cam rollers 139-146) confront trip cams 141-142 fixed to centering and hold down cleats or plungers 143-144 mounted in guides 145-146. The centering and hold down cleats or plungers 143-144 are in horizontal alignment with the slab 76 resting on the top drum side 79 at the cutting and impression station, and springs 147- 148 normally urge the cleats or plungers 143-144 from each other so that the trip cams 141-142 are actuated by the rollers 139-140 against the urge of the springs 147-148.

This actuation of the slab centering and hold down cleats or plungers 143-144 takes place just before the impression dies 115 and cutter blades 117 make contact with the slab 76 at the cutting and impression station, and the cleats 143-144 effectively grasp the side edges of the slabs 76 to cooperate with the lower and upper cleats 86-90 to hold the slabs 76 against removal from the drum surface 79 on the up-stroke of the dies 115 and cutters 117. The cutting and impressing should be effected with the dies 115 and cutters 117 at a predetermined and more or less constant temperature depending upon room temperatures and the initial temperature of the slabs 76. These controls make for perfection, speed and uniformity in the simultaneous impressing and segmenting operations. To this end, an electrical heating element 149 (Figure 9) is provided for contact with the housing 119 to conduct heat to the platen 116 and the dies 115 as well as the cutter blades 117, thereby keeping them at the desired temperature which will approximate 125 F. for butter with variable ranges for ditferent climatic conditions and other substances.

A temperature indicator 159 equipped with an adjustable thermostat is provided to automatically control the temperature to that set in any particular situation. It should be noted that the slabs 76 are severed from the horizontal column of substance 77 (Figure 5) and displaced onto an adjacent drum side 79 by the oscillating movement of the slab cutter frame 41 after paper liners 151 (Figures 2, 4 and 5) are automatically applied to the drum sides 79 as such rotate to the slab severing and feeding station so that a liner 151 is in position thereon to receive the slab 76 thereover. The paper liners 151 are stacked in a floating magazine or rack 152 that is slidably mounted on confronting channels 153 disposed at an acute angle of substantially degrees to slidably receive the rack or magazine 152 therealong (Figures 2 and 4).

The rack or magazine 152 is roller mounted to slide in the channels 153 for normal displacement upwardly along the incline thereof by reason of a tension spring 154 which is mounted as at 155 to the magazine or rack 152 while the other spring extremity 156 is anchored to the cross channel 47 of the underframe which supports the air suction cylinder 69. The urge of the spring 154 retains the stacked paper liners 151 in the path of rubber suction cups 157-158 (Figure 10) which will be presently described. In order to fill the magazine or rack 152 with paper liners, it is held in Wide open or loading position by means of toggle levers 159-160 (Figure 4) that are operatively connected as at 155 to the magazine or rack 152 and to a bearing 161 comprising a part of a bracket 162 which depends from the lower frame cross member 13.

A lever 163 is operatively connected to the toggle lever 160 to enable the displacement of the magazine 152 to its extreme lowermost position on the channels 153 and there it is locked in wide open position by the toggle levers 159-160 against the urge of the spring 154. After the magazine 152 is loaded with a stacked supply of paper 8. liners 151, the lever 163 is shifted to its extreme clockwise position to enable the spring 154 to cause the magazine or rack 152 to slide upwardly along the channels 153 to compensate for paper consumption. In order to individually feed the paper liners 151 along a predetermined path,

for application to the drum side 79 as the drum 78 intermittently rotates in a counter-clockwise direction (viewed from Figure 5 the rubber suction cups 157-158 are mounted on cars 164 fixed to crank arms 165-166 which terminate in hubs 167-168 (Figures 5 and 10) that are fixed to a hollow shaft 169 journalled in bearings 170-171 attached to vertical frame members 172-173.

The rubber suction cups 157-158 are provided with rigid tubes 174 that extend through the ears 164 of the crank arms 165-166 for communication through flexible tubes 175 that extend into and communicate with ports 176 that communicate with the interior of the shaft 169. The shaft 169 is provided with an air communtator assembly 177 so that air suction is transferred to the rotating shaft 169 by means of a tube 178 (Figures 3 and 4) The tube 178 communicates with the air suction cylinder 69 constituting a vacuum pump timed so that the vacuum created is transmitted to the rubber suction cups 157-158 as such rotate in a clockwise direction (viewed from Figure 4) and come in contact with the paper =liners 151. The paper liners 151 are individually transferred by the rubber suction cups 157-158 to a curved wire grid 179 (Figures 5 and 10) connected by individual bosses 180 to a horizontal rod 181 that is supported by spaced ears 182 (Figure 5) depending from the side frame plates 85 (Figure 2).

A confronting and correspondinglycurved wire grid 183 (Figure 5) is mounted to extend in spaced confronting relation from the mid-portion of the grid 179 (Figure 5) to assume the general curved contour of the path of travel of the drum 78 up to and substantially in line with the horizontal surface of the endless conveyor 14 so that the individual paper liners 151 will be released by the rubber suction cups 157-158 at a point of engagement thereof by the movable cleats 86 along the receding edges of the drum side 79. To this end, the movable cleats 86 are provided with a series of notches 184 (Figure 9) that are spaced to correspond with the spacing of the wires of the grid 183 so as to project therebetween as the drum 78 rotates the lowermost movable cleats 86 in the path of the grid 183 to move the paper liners 151 upwardly therealong in a position confronting each of the drum sides 79 so that the severed slabs 76 are displaced thereon with the paper liner 151 thereunder.

To insure the individual feeding of the paper liners 151, holding pins (not shown) are provided conjunction with the paper feeding mechanism 166 so that the individual paper liner 151 adjacent to the suction cups 157-158 will be slightly torn by the pins as such proceed therewith so that the next adjacent stack sheet cannot adhere thereto, this being an expedient that is well known in the paper feeding art. The paper liner 151 is appreciably wider than the drum sides 79 and the slab 76 disposed thereon so as to enable folding thereover at the discharge station after the slabs 76 have been segmented and impressed. The paper liners 151 are folded over the impressed and segmented surface of the slab 76 as the drum 78 with the processed slab thereon intermittently rotates to a position substantially opposite the slab severing and displacement station. To accomplish the folding of the paper liners 151 over the impressed and segmented surface of the slab 76, a pivotal and slidable folder and hold-down plate 185 (Figures 1 and 9) is provided to slide transversely of and along the drum side 79 (Figures 8 and 9) at the discharge station which is substantially opposite the feeding station. To this end, the folder and hold-down plate 185 is provided with hinge sleeves 186 that are complemental to hinge sleeves 187 provided on a fronting delivery plate 188 (Figure l). I

A coil spring 189 is mounted in a bracket 190 that carries a cam roller 191 to normally cause the folder plate 185 to assume a position adjacent to and in contactwith the delivery plate 188. The folder plate 185 is returned to its initial position by the cam roller 191 when the latter contacts a trip cam plate 209. With this arrangement, the folder plate 185 is spring actuated to fold the paper liner over the exposed surface of the segmented and impressed slab 76 at the initial point of displacement of the slab 76 from the drum side 79 at the discharge station. It should be noted that the folder plate 185 has a plurality of extended vertically spaced fingers 192, in this .instance four, which receive pins 193 therebetween which extend from the delivery plate 188 so as to serve as .a shoulder or stop against which the segmented and impressed slab 76 abuts for delivery of the slidable displacement of the folding and delivery plates 185188 transversely along the drum side 79 from left to right as viewed in Figure 9.

This motion is effected by means of a sleeve mount 194 to which the delivery plate 188 is rigidly attached for guidance along a transverse rod 195 which extends between the frame members 10. A pivotal bearing 196 extends from the point of attachment between the delivery plate 188 and the guide sleeve 194 (Figure 8) to provide an elongated rod 197 in telescopic association with a sleeve 198 that has a plate 199 extending therefrom for pivotal connection through a joint 200 to a bracket 201 fixed to a plate 202 that is anchored to a cross member 203 of the frame (Figure 9). The plate 199 extends downwardly beyond the pivotal joint 200 to carry a cam follower roller 204 that rides in a cam groove 205 provided in the cylindrical cam 206 which is fixed to a countershaft 207 extending between and journalled in the vertical frame members 208.

With this mechanism, the sleeve 194 carries the confronting folding and delivery plates 185-188 to the extreme left where contact is established between the spring hinge member 190 and a fixed cam 209 mounted on the side plate 35 (Figure 9) to open the folding plate 185 relative to the delivery plate 188 so that that portion of the paper liner 151 projecting beyond the slab 79 will be engaged therewith and as the movement proceeds to the right along the drum side 79 at the discharge station, the hinge 190 rides off of the cam 209 and the spring 189 flips the folder plate 185 against the delivery plate 188 at which time the projecting portion of the paper liner 151 is folded over the exposed surface of the segmented and impressed slabs 76.

This sliding movement that effects delivery of the segmented and impressed slabs 76 to the right for complete removal from the drum side 79 at the discharge station, effects delivery thereof to a perforated ejector plate 210 (Figure 9). As the segmented and impressed slab is displaced toward the ejector plate 210, a fixed hinged folding anvil or cleat 211 (Figure l) is provided in the path thereof just prior to the slab reaching the ejector plate 210 (Figure 9). The fixed folding anvil or cleat 211 prevents the segmented and impressed slab 76 from coming back after it reaches the ejector plate 210, and also serves to fold the oppositely projecting portions of the paper liner 151 over the other half of the exposed portion of the segmented and impressed slab 76 to cause the flap to adhere thereto.

This completes the wrapping of the segmented and impressed slab 76 with the paper liner 151 as delivery is effected to the ejector plate 210 that has a shoulder 212 at its extreme edge to preclude the wrapped slab from being displaced beyond the ejector plate 210 that has its lower edge in alignment with the table top 213 (Figures 1 and 2) extending from the dischargestation to the extremity of the frame so as to support the wrapped slab 76 on end adjacent to the ejector plate 210. The ejector plate 210 (Figure 2) is fixed in a slightly inclined position to a lever 214 which is bent to provide a depending offset 215 that is pivoted as at 216 to a bracket 217 fixed to the vertical frame member 208.

The lever offset 215 extends beyond the pivot 216 to provide a cam follower roller 2 18 at the lower extremity thereof to ride in confronting relation with a cam 219 (Figure 9) fixed to the counter-shaft 207 to actuate the ejector plate 210 in a counter-clockwise direction (viewed from Figure 2) at the terminus of the cycle to discharge the wrapped segmented and impressed slab 76 onto an endless conveyor 220 mounted on rollers 221-222 journallecl in the frame 10 to present a surface in alignment with the table top 213 for discharge of the wrapped and segmented slabs 76 onto a chute 223 where they can be packed into cartons according to the dictates of commercial practice. A spring 224 extends between the ejector lever 214- and the frame 10 (Figure 2) to maintain contact between the cam follower roller 213 and the cam 219. This cycle of steps is continuously and automatically proceeded with so long as the horizontal column of substance 77 is provided on the endless conveyor 14.

Should it be desired to provide a tempering fluid such as Water within the platen 116 (Figure 9) and thus procure a more uniform temperature with more effective con trol, flexible pipes 225-226 may be provided for communication with the platen 116, and these extend to a water tank supply 227 (Figure 2) mounted on corner posts 228 that are supported by hearing brackets 229 which, in turn, support the bearings 8283 for the drum shaft 81. To this end, the corner posts 223 have a flanged plate 230 provided thereon to receive the water tempering tank 227 thereon. The instrumentalities described supra are power actuated from a single electric motor 231 (Figure 2) posted on brackets 232433 supported by the lower cross members 13 of the frame 10. The motor 231 has a pulley 234 on the armature shaft thereof to drive a belt 235 that engages another pulley 236 fixed to a driven stub shaft 237 (Figure 3) which operates a clutch 238 that is controlled by a rod 239 having connection with a manual lever 240 (Figure 2) pivoted as at 241 to the frame 10.

The lever 240 extends upwardly beyond the table top 213 to present a manual gripping handle 242 so that the operation of the instrumentalities can be controlled even though the motor 231 is in operation. The driven end of the clutch 238 (Figure 3) terminates in a shaft 243 that operates a speed reducer 244 that has a driven shaft 245 extending therethrough to drive sprockets 246 and 247. The sprocket 246 has a chain 248 which extends to a sprocket 249 fixed to the drum shaft 31 to operate the eccentric 92 and the crank arm 94 which imparts intermittent rotation to the drum 79. The shaft 81 also operates the cams 136 which actuate the cutting and impressing instrumentalities 117 as described supra. Another sprocket 250 is provided on the shaft 245 (Figure l) to operate a sprocket 251 fixed on the counter-shaft 207 to operate the cams 206-219 (Figure 9) which in turn actuate the slab delivery slide and paper liner folder in conjunction with the ejector plate 210.

The sprocket 247 has a drive 252 which idles over a sprocket 253 (Figure 2) that is supported by the lower frame cross member 13 to extend to a sprocket 254 constituting a driver for an adjustable speed selector 255 (Figure 3) supported by a base plate 256 that extends between the lower frame member 13 (Figures 2 and 7). The speed selector 255 (Figure 7) is of standard construction .and governs the speed of the endless feed conveyor 14 through a chain 256 engaging a sprocket 257' which drives the feed conveyor 14 so that the thickness of the slab 76 can be .varied within a wide range, this mechanism providing both fine and rough adjustment for a maximum variation in weights of the slabs 76 as they are to be processed in accordance with the teachings of the invention. Another chain 257 extends to another sprocket 258 to mesh with an idler sprocket 259 fixed to the vertical frame member 12 (Figure 2) so as to run over a portion of a sprocket 260 that is fixed to a shaft 169 to rotate the rubber suction cups 157 comprising part of the feeder for the paper liners 151 (Figure 5).

The countershaft 50 operates the belt 261 which drives the pulley 262 that, in turn, operates a train of gears within the speed selector 255. The belt 261 is driven by a pulley 263 which is fixed to the countershaft 50 for operating the various instrumentalities connected thereto as previously described. The endless discharge conveyor 220 is driven from the endless feeding conveyor 14 through a chain 264 (Figure 2) so that the feeding and discharge will be in corresponding linear travel speeds. It will be apparent, therefore, that all of the instrumentalities are interconnected for operation in timed relation to perform the functions described in connection with each of the instrumcntalities that process the edible substances from a large horizontal column 77 (Figure 5) into segmented and impressed slabs 76 which are each provided with a paper wrapper 151, and these instrumentalities are all responsive to a single source of power which, in the present embodiment, constitutes the electric motor 231. With the arrangement of parts above described, a much more competent machine operating at much higher speeds with increased production has been provided to constitute a substantial improvement over the co-pending application, Serial No. 450,769 filed July 13, 1942, now Patent No. 2,441,757 issued May 18, 1948, toward which all of the present applicants contributed.

While we have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of this invention, it must be understood that the invention is capable of considerable variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. in a cutting mechanism of the character mentioned for cutting uniform thin slices from preformed slabs of material, the combination with a rigid frame, of means on said rigid frame for feeding preformed substances along a predetermined path, a cutter frame mounted proximate to the end of travel of said feeding means in said path for movement in timed relation with said feeding means, cutter means mounted for reciprocable movement in said cutter frame substantially transversely of said feeding means, and means on said rigid frame for continuously operating said feeding and reciprocable cutter means in timed relation to displace said cutting means along a path parallel and in unison with said feeding means to successively slice the preformed substances while being displaced by said feeding means.

2. In a cutting mechanism of the character mentioned for cutting uniform thin slices from preformed slabs of material, the combination with a rigid frame, of means on said rigid frame for continuously feeding preformed substances along a predetermined path, a cutter frame mounted proximate to the end of travel of said feeding means in said path for movement in timed relation with said feeding means, cutter means mounted for reciprocabie movement in said cutterframe substantially transversely of said feeding means, and means on said rigid frame for continuously operating said feeding and reciprocable cutter means, in timed relation to displace said cutting means along a path parallel and in unison with said feeding means to successively slice the preformed substances while being displaced by said continuous feeding means.

3. in a cutting mechanism of the character mentioned, the combination with a rigid frame, of means on said rigid frame for continuously feeding preformed substances along a predetermined path, a cutter frame rockably mounted proximate to the end of travel of said feeding means in said path for movement in timed relation with said feeding means, cutter means mounted for reciprocable movement in said rockably mounted cutter frame substantially transversely of said feeding means, and on said rigid frame for continuously operating said feeding and reciprocable cutter means in timed relation to suc cessively slice the preformed substances while being displaced by said continuous feeding means.

4. In a cutting mechanism of the character mentioned, the combination with a rigid frame, of means on said rigid frame for continuously feeding preformed substances along a predetermined path, a cutter frame rockably mounted proximate to the end of travel of said feeding means in said path for movement in timed relation with said feeding means, cutter means mounted for reciprocable movement in said rockably mounted cutter frame substantially transversely of said feeding means, and means on said rigid frame for continuously operating said feeding, rockably mounted cutter frame, and reciprocable cutter means in timed relation to successively slice the preformed substances while being displaced by said continuous feeding means. 7

5. In a cutting mechanism of the character mentioned, the combination with a rigid frame, of means on said rigid frame for continuously feeding preformed substances along a predetermined path, a cutter frame mounted proximate to the end of travel of said feeding means in said path for movement in timed relation with said feeding means, cutter means mounted for reciprocable movement in said cutter frame substantially transversely of said feeding means, means on said rigid frame for continuously operating said feeding and reciprocable cutter means, and means for oscillating said cutter frame in timed relation with said feeding and reciprocable cutter to successively slice the preformed substances while being displaced by said continuous feeding means.

6. In a feeding and cutting mechanism, the combination with a rigid frame, of an endless continuously moving conveyor on said rigid frame to displace a preformed substance along a predetermined path, a cutter frame having confronting vertical arms pivotally mounted on said n'gid frame proximate to the end of said conveyor, there being confronting grooves in said frame arms, guides slidably mounted in said confronting grooves, a cutter extending between said slidable guides, means on said rigid frame for reciprocating said cutter and guides in said cutter frame arms, and means for oscillating said cutter frame in timed relation with said reciprocating and feeding means to successively sever slabs from said preformed substances while in continuous displacement.

7. In a feeding and cutting mechanism, the combination with a rigid frame, of an endless continuously moving conveyor on said rigid frame to displace a preformed substance along a predetermined path, a cutter frame having confronting vertical arms pivotally mounted on said rigid frame proximate to the end of said conveyor, there being confronting grooves in said frame arms, guides slidably mounted in said confronting grooves, a cutter extending between said slidable guides, means on said rigid frame for reciprocating said cutter and guides in said cutter frame arms, means for oscillating said cutter frame in timed relation with said reciprocating and feed ing means to successively sever slabs from said preformed substances while in continuous displacement, and means for displacing successive severed slabs along a predetermined path for further processing.

8. In a feeding and cutting mechanism, the combination with a rigid frame, of an endless continuously moving conveyor on said rigid frame to displace a preformed substance along a predetermined path, a cutter frame having confronting vertical arms pivotally mounted on said rigid frame proximate to the ends of said conveyor, there being confronting grooves in said frame arms, guides slidably mounted in said confronting grooves, a

cutter extending between said slidable guides, means on said rigid frame for reciprocating said cutter and guides in said cutter frame arms, means for oscillating said cutter frame in timed relation with said reciprocating and feeding means to successively sever slabs from said preformed substances while in continuous displacement, and rotating means operating in timed relation with said reciprocable cutter for displacing successive severed slabs along a predetermined path for further processing.

9. In a feeding and cutting mechanism, the combination with a rigid frame, of an endless continuously moving conveyor on said rigid frame to displace a preformed substance along a predetermined path, a cutter frame having confronting vertical arms pivotally mounted on said rigid frame proximate to the end of said conveyor, there being confronting grooves in said frame arms, guides slidably mounted in said confronting grooves, a cutter extending between said slidable guides, means on said rigid frame for reciprocating said cutter and guides in said cutter frame arms, means for oscillating said cutter frame in timed relation with said reciprocating and feeding means to successively sever slabs from said preformed substances while in continuous displacement, and rotating means including slab edge grippers operating in timed relation with said reciprocable cutter for displacing successive severed slabs along a predetermined path for further processing.

10. In a feeding and cutting mechanism, the combina tion with a rigid frame, of an endless continuously moving conveyor on said rigid frame to displace a preformed substance along a predetermined path, a cutter frame having confronting vertical arms pivotally mounted on said rigid frame proximate to the end of said conveyor, there being confronting grooves in said frame arms, guides slidably mounted in said confronting grooves, a cutter extending between said slidable guides, means on said rigid frame for reciprocating said cutter and guides in said cutter frame arms, means for oscillating said cutter frame in timed relation with said reciprocating and feeding means to successively sever slabs from said preformed substances while in continuous displacement, rotating means including slab edge grippers operating in timed relation with said reciprocable cutter, and means for actuating said slab edge grippers for displacing successive severed slabs along a predetermined path for further processing.

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